Rescued Thai Football Team Unable to Attend World Cup Final

THE 12 members of a junior soccer team that transfixed a global audience with their dramatic rescue from a cave in northern Thailand will be denied the opportunity to attend Sunday’s World Cup final…..

World football governing body, FIFA, had extended an offer to host the players at the final on Sunday.

However, the youngsters from Wild Boars Football Club near Chiang Rai were instructed to remain in hospital for at least seven days for monitoring by medical staff.

“We have been informed by the Football Association of Thailand that due to medical reasons, the boys will not be in a position to travel to Moscow for the World Cup final. FIFA’s priority remains the health of everyone involved in the operation and we will look into finding a new opportunity to invite the boys to a FIFA event to share with them a moment of communion and celebration,” FIFA said in a statement.

FIFA officials will meet with members of the Thai soccer federation this weekend to discuss possibilities of a future trip for the boys, who range in age from 11 to 16. English Premier League club Manchester United also extended an offer to the players and their rescuers to attend a game at its Old Trafford stadium next season.